2024 UGA Model State Program

Project Overview

SGA24-001
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2024: $16,772.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2025
Grant Recipient: University of Georgia
Region: Southern
State: Georgia
State Coordinators:
Dr. Timothy Coolong
Email
University of Georgia
Co-Coordinators:
Dr. Mark Latimore
Email
Fort Valley State University

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal abstract:

The UGA SARE program is focusing on 3 primary ways to provide professional development opportunities for agriculture professionals in Georgia. We continue to provide scholarship (travel) support  for Extension professionals to attend conferences and educational programming.  We are also using resources to provide agent and farmer training opportunities through workshops and hands on sessions. In some cases these are led by farmers who are given an honorarium for their time.  Further, the program will continue to support the journeyman farmer program at UGA. Other outreach efforts include supporting organizations in Georgia such as GA Organics, providing support to agents via the SARE program assistant and continuing to promote efforts in urban food production.

Project objectives from proposal:

In 2024 we will use funds to support several objectives that are part of our revised state strategic plan. Our revised strategic plan is to provide educational opportunities to agriculture professionals in a wide range of sustainable agriculture topic areas including but not limited to grazing strategies, cover cropping, and sustainable diversified cropping systems.  In-state training opportunities will be focused on topics affecting urban and peri-urban farms that focus on sustainable agriculture production.  An example of training opportunities geared toward these operations would include food safety trainings for produce, tomato grafting, and cover cropping. We will also continue to support farmer led educational opportunities for agents and other growers. Examples may include farm tours or how-to lectures delivered by farms. In addition, we provide support to the Journeyman Farmer Program at UGA. This program is geared toward new farmers in small ruminant or fruit and vegetable production.

Our priorities for training will include:

  • Support for Extension professionals to attend in-state and out of state conferences focused on sustainability.
  • Support for experiential learning opportunities within Georgia for growers and agents. A 2024 planned program will cover small scale irrigation management for diversified farms.
  • Supporting the journeyman farmer program at UGA.Recently we have observed a significant increase in interest in the metro-Atlanta area for this program. In early 2024 the program will be offered in Henry and Clayton Counties.
  • Further developing our network of farmer-delivered programming.  The Athens area sustainable grower group is an example of a group that has had farmer led educational opportunities.  [caption id="attachment_1067763" align="alignnone" width="300"]SARE resource distribution Here is a table showing SARE resources that were distributed at an on-farm training where the UGA SARE coordinator participated.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1067764" align="alignnone" width="225"]Farm tractor workshop SARE coordinator Coolong speaking at an on farm workshop where materials were distributed.[/caption]
  • UGA SARE presence throughout the state supporting program related objectives throughout Georgia. Many of these efforts are led by the SARE program assistant.

 

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.